Château LA POINTE 2022

Description

Yves Beck 93-94 points www.yvesbeck.wine
La Pointe révèle bien son élevage, de manière surprenante d’ailleurs car je ne l’ai jamais perçu de cette manière. Une aération de quelques secondes change complètement la donne puisque ce sont des notes épicées et fruitées qui prennent le dessus ! Le vin a du corps grâce à son caractère crémeux et des tannins soyeux. Il profite du tempérament de sa structure acide qui confère de la fraîcheur et plébiscite l’intensité ainsi que la persistance de la finale.  2027-2040  

Georgina Hindle 94 points  www.decanter.com 
Vibrant colour, deep vivid purple. Amazingly scented, perfumed and expressive on the nose, vanilla, white chocolate, creamy red cherries, plums, raspberries, toast and liquorice. Juicy and sharp, high acidity makes the mark straight away before a clean, salty, stony texture comes through. Fruit is concentrated but also crisp and lively giving a sense of joy and energy, before the structure and power come in, focussing the wine into more of a straight line towards the pointed finish. Long and detailed with freshness and soft spiced elements from the Cabernet Franc. There’s a lot of tannins here but balanced by acidity. Feels like hands off winemaker, careful not to extract too much weight and mass. Ageing 12 months, 50% new, 50% one year. Earliest harvest ever starting on 5 September finishing on the 17th. A yield of 30hl/ha. Extraction was very gentle according to winemaker Eric Monneret. ‘It was such a strong vintage with the risk of creating a monster. You have to accept not to take everything’.

Neal Martin 92-94 www.vinous.com
The 2022 La Pointe is matured in 50% new oak with 14.2% alcohol, the pH, 3.7. The Cabernet Franc had little juice and was difficult to extract, hence the blend of 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc. It has an impressive bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, hints of dark chocolate and liquorice. It is well-defined with neatly integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a granular entry, quite saline, touches of white pepper infusing the black fruit. Graphite and light peppery notes, not a « heavy Pomerol » but tensile with an overtly spicy finish, very saline on the aftertaste. Élevage should smooth its edges, so afford this La Pointe 4-5 years in bottle.